BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Coming out of an 11 ½-length domination of a maiden special weight on the dirt at Mountaineer, Florida-bred Nessy took that form to the Churchill Downs grass course Thursday to upset a $84,717 non-winners of two allowance races at odds of 48-1.

Ridden by Gerardo Corrales, Nessy was off a step slow but hustled up between horses to engage a quick Trip Castle for the short run into the first turn. Nessy went by Trim Castle with a rapid :21.79 quarter-mile split then clear around the turn. He had to again fight off Trim Castle coming out of the turn as Allura and Cactus also tried to get close on the outside but pulled away in the stretch. Nessy then held off a late surge by Allura to win by a half-length in :55.18 on the firm turf. Allura was three-quarters of a length faster than Trim Castle in third followed in order by Cactus Closer, Reza, Into Music and Skepticism.

Nessy paid $98.88 to win.

Trained by Nestor Rivera for Rivera Racing Stables, Nessy was unsuccessful in his first three tries against special weight maidens, first when second going five furlongs on the main track at Thistledown on June 25. Rivera then took him to Presque Isle Downs for two starts racing five furlongs on synthetic where he was third on July 6 and fourth on July 27 before his romp over five furlongs at Mountaineer on September 20.

Nessy earned $43,848 for the win to increase his lifetime revenues to $64,798. He also took down a $3,000 Export Incentive for the maiden special weight victory outside Florida to be paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to breeder Bridlewood Farm. He is by Nashville out of Gomogotcha, by Medaglia d’Oro.

Rivera bought Nessy for $9,000 out of the Hoppel consignment at this year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale.

Return to the October 30 issue of Wire to Wire